Syracuse police are investigating the death of a 3-year-old boy last night as a homicide.

Police were called to 2546 South Ave. shortly before midnight for a report of an unconscious child. The first officers said the boy was not breathing, and fire and ambulance crews later determined the child had been dead for several hours.

Police are not releasing the boy's name pending notification of the family.

The Onondaga County Medical Examiner will perform an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

The owner of the four-bedroom house, Philip Hensberry, of Liverpool, said he rented the house three months ago to three single men, some of whom had children who came to visit. Hensberry said he had not heard about the child's death until contacted by The Post-Standard.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact the Syracuse Police at 442-5222.